Akunda, E.M.W2015-06-292015-06-291980East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, XLV (No. 3), pp. 230-2350012-8325http://localhost:8080/dspace/handle/0/1133The paper describes the use of antitranspirants in alleviating the problem of water stress and the possibility of employing them to synchronize and improve flowering. Phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), essentially a metabolic inhibitor and maleic hydrazide, a growth retardant applied at concentrations ranging from IO-fM to 10-IM generally resulted in increased , low transpiration rate and a high degree of succulence; maleic hydrazide (MH) was most effective at IO-IM, whereas PMA was most effective at IO-2M. Because of the toxic nature of PMA, it is recommended that maelic hydrazide be used for alleviating the problem of stress in coffee.enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Journal ContributionAntitranspirantsWater stressCoffeeSoil water